Connections between Periodontal, Heart Disease and Diabetes

The connection between periodontal (gum) disease and heart disease is now a fairly well known connection. What is lesser known, however, is the connections between gum disease and diabetes. This is due to the mutually tissue destroying effects of both diseases. Patients with poorly controlled blood sugar have higher incidence of complications from neuropathy, nephropathy, heart disease, infections, cataracts, and periodontal disease. Outcomes from perio treatment are highly jeopardized in individuals with hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

Both of these diseases are chronic, non-curable, and controllable. The biggest similarity is the adverse effect on each other. Diabetes is the #1 systemic risk factor for gum disease. Hyperglycemia lowers the body’s ability to kill pathogens (bacteria) and enhances inflammation. At the same time, gum disease worsens blood sugar control by increasing insulin resistance.

These problems emphasize the great need to control perio disease in these patients. Items including power brushes, antimicrobial rinses, and local or systemic antibiotics are available to aid in treatment. It is vitally important to prevent and control gum disease because 65% of uncontrolled diabetics will die from heart attack or stoke.

As noted above, we already know the connection between gum disease and heart disease. It can become, therefore, a vicious cycle which must be prevented or at lease strictly controlled.